S.J.R. No. 29
 
 
  proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature
  to exempt all or part of the residence homesteads of certain totally
  disabled veterans from ad valorem taxation and authorizing a change
  in the manner of determining the amount of the existing exemption
  from ad valorem taxation to which a disabled veteran is entitled.
         BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 1-b, Article VIII, Texas Constitution,
  is amended by adding Subsection (i) to read as follows:
         (i)  The legislature by general law may exempt from ad
  valorem taxation all or part of the market value of the residence
  homestead of a disabled veteran who is certified as having a
  service-connected disability with a disability rating of 100
  percent or totally disabled and may provide additional eligibility
  requirements for the exemption.  For purposes of this subsection,
  "disabled veteran" means a disabled veteran as described by Section
  2(b) of this article.
         SECTION 2.  Subsection (b), Section 2, Article VIII, Texas
  Constitution, is amended to read as follows:
         (b)  The Legislature may, by general law, exempt property
  owned by a disabled veteran or by the surviving spouse and surviving
  minor children of a disabled veteran. A disabled veteran is a
  veteran of the armed services of the United States who is classified
  as disabled by the Veterans' Administration or by a successor to
  that agency[;] or by the military service in which the veteran [he]
  served. A veteran who is certified as having a disability of less
  than 10 percent is not entitled to an exemption. A veteran having a
  disability rating of not less than 10 percent but less [nor more]
  than 30 percent may be granted an exemption from taxation for
  property valued at up to $5,000. A veteran having a disability
  rating of not less [more] than 30 percent but less [not more] than
  50 percent may be granted an exemption from taxation for property
  valued at up to $7,500. A veteran having a disability rating of not
  less [more] than 50 percent but less [not more] than 70 percent may
  be granted an exemption from taxation for property valued at up to
  $10,000. A veteran who has a disability rating of [more than] 70
  percent or more, or a veteran who has a disability rating of not
  less than 10 percent and has attained the age of 65, or a disabled
  veteran whose disability consists of the loss or loss of use of one
  or more limbs, total blindness in one or both eyes, or paraplegia,
  may be granted an exemption from taxation for property valued at up
  to $12,000. The spouse and children of any member of the United
  States Armed Forces who dies while on active duty may be granted an
  exemption from taxation for property valued at up to $5,000. A
  deceased disabled veteran's surviving spouse and children may be
  granted an exemption which in the aggregate is equal to the
  exemption to which the veteran was entitled when the veteran died.
         SECTION 3.  The following temporary provision is added to
  the Texas Constitution:
         TEMPORARY PROVISION. (a)  This temporary provision applies
  to the constitutional amendment proposed by the 80th Legislature,
  Regular Session, 2007, authorizing the legislature to exempt all or
  part of the residence homesteads of certain totally disabled
  veterans from ad valorem taxation and authorizing a change in the
  manner of determining the amount of the existing exemption from ad
  valorem taxation to which a disabled veteran is entitled and
  expires January 1, 2009.
         (b)  The amendments to Sections 1-b and 2(b), Article VIII,
  of this constitution take effect January 1, 2008, and apply only to
  a tax year beginning on or after that date.
         SECTION 4.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
  submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 6, 2007.
  The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
  proposition: "The constitutional amendment authorizing the
  legislature to exempt all or part of the residence homesteads of
  certain totally disabled veterans from ad valorem taxation and
  authorizing a change in the manner of determining the amount of the
  existing exemption from ad valorem taxation to which a disabled
  veteran is entitled."
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.J.R. No. 29 was adopted by the Senate
  on May 3, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that
  the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 24, 2007, by the
  following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.J.R. No. 29 was adopted by the House,
  with amendment, on May 22, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 144,
  Nays 0, one present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House